The Dark Horse is a stalwart of Moseley's independent scene at 145 Alcester Road, Birmingham (B13 8JP), a sister venue to the Prince of Wales. Downstairs is a craft-beer pub with around 15 rotating lines and a menu of British pub classics with an American dive-bar twist; upstairs is a roughly 200-capacity venue that hosts live bands (local and national), stand-up comedy and club nights all week, plus open-mic and folk sessions. The mix of original acts and covers, a dedicated stage and an established events programme make it one of south Birmingham's most reliable grassroots music rooms.
Birmingham · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
The Dark Horse Open Mic
Birmingham open mic at The Dark Horse — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 3 Sept 202620:00
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up from 19:30Wednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
290
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
0
Member votes
votes to get this venue on GigXchange
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | darkhorsemoseley.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every WednesdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
19:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
20:00 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:30 Last songs
00:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Dark Horse
MoseleyGetting there
145 Alcester Rd, Moseley,
Birmingham B13 8JP
Birmingham B13 8JP
The nearest station is Moseley Village (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
1 provided · 6 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
Moseley, BirminghamAbout the night
The Dark Horse sits in the heart of Moseley Village: a bar, grill and 200-capacity upstairs music room serving craft beer, cocktails and smokehouse food. Wednesday is open-mic night, badged on the venue's own calendar as The Dark Horse Sessions, 8pm to 11:30pm, with a rotating crew of hosts taking turns week by week: Vic and Ade's Free n Easy open mic (the Treehouse Sessions, a warm and intimate acoustic session in the downstairs bar welcoming musicians of all styles and genres), the Enchanted open mic (music, poetry and storytelling, write yourself in the book when you come in) and Club Kowalski (a curated night of headline acts and guest performers rather than a walk-up slot). September 2026 dates on the calendar: 2, 9 and 16 September, all Wednesdays at 8pm.
Sign-up process
Slots are available on the night or can be reserved via the host's Facebook page. No entry fee is listed, donations go towards getting the performers a drink.
Getting there
145 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP, on the main road through Moseley Village, the 50 bus from the city centre stops outside.
The Dark Horse is a stalwart of Moseley's independent scene at 145 Alcester Road, Birmingham (B13 8JP), a sister venue to the Prince of Wales. Downstairs is a craft-beer pub with around 15 rotating lines and a menu of British pub classics with an American dive-bar twist; upstairs is a roughly 200-capacity venue that hosts live bands (local and national), stand-up comedy and club nights all week, plus open-mic and folk sessions. The mix of original acts and covers, a dedicated stage and an established events programme make it one of south Birmingham's most reliable grassroots music rooms.
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Moseley · Every Wednesday
The Dark Horse Open Mic
Birmingham open mic at The Dark Horse — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 3 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Birmingham open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Dark Horse Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Dark Horse Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at The Dark Horse in Birmingham, starting at 20:00 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 3 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Dark Horse’s venue page →
The night starts at 20:00 and runs to about 23:30. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 19:30 - arrive early to get a slot. Each act gets about 12 minutes, so the night holds around 17 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 21m
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitedarkhorsemoseley.co.uk
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
Spotted something wrong with this listing?Closed, moved night, different start time? Let us know. We review corrections within 7 days.
NightWednesdayEvery WednesdayNext: Wed 18 Nov
Starts20:00until 23:30
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 17 acts
What’s on in Birmingham this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Dark Horse sits in the heart of Moseley Village: a bar, grill and 200-capacity upstairs music room serving craft beer, cocktails and smokehouse food. Wednesday is open-mic night, badged on the venue's own calendar as The Dark Horse Sessions, 8pm to 11:30pm, with a rotating crew of hosts taking turns week by week: Vic and Ade's Free n Easy open mic (the Treehouse Sessions, a warm and intimate acoustic session in the downstairs bar welcoming musicians of all styles and genres), the Enchanted open mic (music, poetry and storytelling, write yourself in the book when you come in) and Club Kowalski (a curated night of headline acts and guest performers rather than a walk-up slot). September 2026 dates on the calendar: 2, 9 and 16 September, all Wednesdays at 8pm.
Sign-up process
Slots are available on the night or can be reserved via the host's Facebook page. No entry fee is listed, donations go towards getting the performers a drink.
Getting there
145 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP, on the main road through Moseley Village, the 50 bus from the city centre stops outside.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The Dark Horse’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 21m
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off20:00Every Wednesday
Music ends23:30Last act finishes
Venue closes00:00The listed closing time
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 17 acts
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Kit
The Dark Horse provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Get there by 19:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 12 minutes.
Find The Dark Horse
145 Alcester Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP
Address145 Alcester Rd, Moseley
AreaMoseley, Birmingham
PostcodeB13 8JP
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Moseley Village (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. The Dark Horse is in Moseley, Birmingham — use B13 8JP for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
Hare And Hounds, The Old Moseley Arms, The Hive Cafe and Bakery and The Sunflower Lounge
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Get there by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:30. The Dark Horse provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
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What should you charge for a paid gig? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. Part of the Birmingham live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Birmingham's The Dark Horse open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Birmingham open mic nights for alternatives.
The Dark Horse provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Dark Horse's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Birmingham open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
145 Alcester Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Birmingham regulars across the Birmingham open mic scene. Birmingham open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Moseley Village (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is B13 8JP. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 19:30, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Birmingham open mics.
What’s On at The Dark Horse
The gigs coming up at The Dark Horse besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
NOV
27
Mobius Loop | Right To Roam Tour
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreFolk
View details›
FEB
12
Definitely Oasis
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
NOV
27
Mobius Loop | Right To Roam Tour
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreFolk
View details›
FEB
12
Definitely Oasis
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
NOV
27
Mobius Loop | Right To Roam Tour
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreFolk
View details›
FEB
12
Definitely Oasis
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
NOV
27
Mobius Loop | Right To Roam Tour
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreFolk
View details›
FEB
12
Definitely Oasis
Birmingham
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
08 — Keep up with Birmingham
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The Dark Horse open mic in brief. The Dark Horse open mic runs every Wednesday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. Coming back with a full band? The Dark Horse’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. For another night this week, the open mics near Birmingham are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Birmingham? The GX Index publishes what UK gigs actually pay, by city, band size and venue type, and the GX Index reports set out the methodology and the sample behind every figure. Both are free to read and free to cite.
Keep exploring: the UK gig directory for what's coming up, the venue directory for rooms that book live music, the open mic finder for recurring stage time, and what's on across the UK this week. The blog covers pricing, contracts and getting booked, and about GigXchange explains who runs it and why. Something not right on this page? Tell us — or start on the home page.
09 — More Birmingham open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Birmingham gigs or check the going rate.
10 — What's on at The Dark Horse
All ›
Rooms near The Dark Horse: 1000 Trades, Acapella, Actress & Bishop, Albert's Schloss, Aldridge Social Club, Ale Hub Droitwich, Arden Hall, Asylum, Austin Sports Social Club, Barbara's Bier Haus, Beech Tree Miners Welfare Club and Birmingham Flapper.
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